A mixture of iron and carbon is used to make steel. Each of the 3500 steel grades has unique physical, chemical, and environmental characteristics depending on the amount of carbon, impurities, and alloys present. Steel can have a carbon percentage ranging from 0.1% to 1.5%, however, the most often used steel types typically have a carbon concentration between 0.1% and 0.25 percent. Manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur are additional substances that are present in all types of steel. Despite the benefits that manganese offers, phosphorus, and sulfur are crucial for giving steel its strength and durability. Different grades of steel can be broadly divided into four categories based on their chemical makeup.
Carbon Steel
Nearly 90% of the steel produced is carbon steel. It has a matte appearance and is highly corrosive. In addition to carbon, it also contains silicon, copper, and manganese. Three further sub-categories of carbon steel are established:
- Less than 0.3% of the steel’s weight is Low carbon. It is the most typical variety of carbon steel.
- Manganese and carbon make up 0.6% of medium carbon steel. Compared to low-carbon steel, it is far more robust.
- Steel that has a carbon content of more than 0.6% (up to 1.5%) is called high-carbon steel. Although it is the strongest of the three, this is difficult to deal with.
Alloy Steel
A variety of elements are combined to create alloy steel, such as manganese, silicon, nickel, titanium, copper, chromium, and aluminum. To manage the steel’s qualities, such as strength and hardness, corrosion resistance, strength, machinability, weldability, or flexibility, these components are added in various ratios. Alloy Steel Plates are widely utilized in mechanical applications, such as pipelines, auto components, generators, etc., and are considerably less expensive.
Stainless Steel
The primary benefit of stainless steel is that it resists corrosion (200 times more resistant than mild steel). Additionally, it can tolerate very high temperatures and is incredibly robust. This lustrous alloy is utilized in a variety of applications, including the production of appliances, machinery, and utensils, because of its great properties. The main alloying element in stainless steel, which has a low carbon content, is often chromium, which ranges from 10% to 20%. The most adaptable category of steel, with more than 100 grades, can be easily modified to meet your unique needs.
The following groups of stainless steels are separated based on their crystalline structure:
Austenitic – Austenitic steels typically have less than 0.8% carbon, 8% nickel, and 18% chromium in their composition. It is not heat treatable and doesn’t have any magnetic characteristics. Austenitic steel plays a significant role in the worldwide steel industry and is employed in a variety of processes, including the production of machinery and kitchen appliances.
Ferritic- Compared to other steel types, ferritic steels are easier to deal with. While heat treatment cannot be used to harden them, cold working can aid to increase their strength. Small amounts of nickel, 12–17% chromium, 0.1% carbon, and additional alloying elements like molybdenum, aluminum, or titanium make up the majority of their composition.
Martensitic Steels- It has a chromium content of 11 to 17%, less than 0.4% nickel, and 1.2% carbon, are magnetic by nature, and can undergo heat treatment. They are frequently employed in the production of blades, cutting instruments, and medical devices.